Russian language without reason called the great and mighty.Constitutes its vocabulary - true wealth.And real diamonds among all this splendor, without a doubt, the countless idioms.They enrich, embellish, make particularly expressive colloquial and literary language.
value phraseologism
exchanging remarks with one another, we sometimes do not even notice that the conversation is used in one or another stable expression, so naturally they are written in the language.And most interesting is that, saying the popular books or idioms, hardly reflect on their inner meaning.And even more so over the origin.And if someone suddenly asked specifically about what is meant by "dog in the manger," then there would be no right answer.Although it is used quite often.
One of phraseological dictionary explains the meaning of idioms: it refers to a situation when someone does not take advantage of another object, a thing, attitude, opportunities to do that and there is no need.Habitually use this phrase, of course, with a hint of disapproval in relation to the individual.However, it can be used even talking about a group of people, social, collective and even the whole country.And the meaning of it is transparent when all these actors possess something, but do not use and do not allow others to do so.
The origins of the expression "dog in the manger»
First and foremost contemporaries remember a TV movie with the same name.They believe that it is necessary to him to dance, to determine what is meant by "dog in the manger."
Some will remember that the tape filmed comedy by Lope de Vega.But not everyone orient, for what reason so named and the source and the film "The dog in the manger." meaning becomes clear when we learn about the origin of this expression with respect to which there are two points of view.
The first is that it goes back to Aesop's fable of the same name.In it we are talking about a dog who lay down in the hay and menacing growls at him wanting to come to the horses."Well, the same shameless creature - the horse could not stand alone.- And because she does not eat the hay, and we were not allowed. "Hence morality is derived: live, they say, and let live.
second opinion goes to the Russian folklore.It is believed that this truncated form of the proverb: "The dog in the manger lies, she does not eat and does not give the beast."
Synonyms
Knowing exactly what is meant by "dog in the manger", you can easily find a set phrases with similar meaning.This could include the phrase "neither yourself nor the other", "What are you, my friend, this cottage decide?We must do something, and then - neither himself nor others. "In this situation, and this expression is appropriate.
It is the same value with the "dog in the manger" idioms have the same situation with an explanation of how "And he did not din (s), and the other will not give."And indirectly: "Be hard, and throw a pity."
Incidentally, such a parallel is traced in other European languages that allows you to make an assumption about the ancient origins of the image of the dog in the manger as a kind of standard of greed, greed, hostility towards others.
Thus, the English idiom (like) the dog in the manger (the literal translation of "dog in the manger"), as well as French n'en mange pas et n'en donne pas ("do not eat and it is notgives "), as well as le chien du jardinière (" Dog the gardener "), have the same meaning as our" dog in the manger. "
Opposites
Usually phraseological antonyms spread much less than, say, synonymous.Antonyms, idioms, opposite in meaning to what is meant by "dog in the manger," in modern dictionaries of the Russian language is not fixed.
more or less similar in context within the meaning of the phrase "heart's content": "That Vanya and says to me that if all one needs it?Take yourself as much as you want. "
With a little stretch of the imagination can be considered as the antonym of the phrase from the Letter of St. James: "Every little helps."
use of the expression "dog in the manger" in the literature and speaking
Viewed aphorism has a very wide use.Book idioms, as a rule, very naturally pass into the spoken language so that later it is difficult to determine which of them was the primary.
expression "dog in the manger" appropriate to bring in a quote from the already mentioned comedy of Lope de Vega (the eponymous film).The protagonist, Teodoro, when referring to Diane uses this idiom.
Quite often it is used in journalism.For example, in one of the newspapers told of the elderly man who lived alone in an apartment of three rooms, barely making ends meet, and often number in the debtors, but in no way wanted to make room to lodge in need of housing niece.The author and exclaims: "In a word, like a dog in the manger.And I myself am not, and others do not give! "Thus, with this sustained expression journalist recreates before the reader's eyes truthful image of unfortunates.Greedy, stubborn, like the hero of Aesop's fables.
